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368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel

368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel

Author: Our True Crime Podcast July 15, 2026 Duration: 1:11:53
Our True Crime Podcast
SocietyCultureJournalsPersonalSociety & CultureTrue Crime
368. The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel On August 22nd, 1987, a man wearing a balaclava broke into a home in Lower Plenty, Australia. After tying up the parents and their young son, he brutally assaulted their eleven-year-old daughter. Then, he did something truly chilling: he made himself a snack, sat down, and ate it, leaving the family tied up and traumatized in the other rooms. This monster, who would eventually be dubbed “Mr. Cruel” by the media, was just getting started. He went on to terrorize the suburbs of Melbourne, executing highly planned child abductions that sparked one of the largest police investigations in Australian history. Then, just as suddenly as he arrived, he vanished. This case is still open. If you have any information on these abductions, please contact the Melbourne Police. Or Crimestoppers  Phone Number (Within Australia): 1800 333 000 Website (For international listeners or online tips): crimestoppersvic.com.au Join Jen & Cam as they dive into the details behind 'The Boogeyman of Melbourne: Mr Cruel.'  *We are BEYOND excited to finally announce our next big adventure! Our True Crime Podcast will be turning 10 years old in 2028.  To celebrate this huge milestone,  we are heading to Europe for a once-in-a-lifetime 11-day trip to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg! We would love for you to come along. It's officially a "Cheers to 10 Years Tour!" from July 8–19, 2028! SAVE $150 per person if you book by July 20th! You can visit our webpage travel webpage here to see the itinerary: https://0tcp711.s.gy/VOfMrW If you’re nervous or want more info, RSVP for a 6pm July 16th Zoom call https://0tcp711.s.gy/Ue4NG8 Our team: Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Inky Pawprint⁠⁠ Sources: https://youtu.be/ArIl4189jDw?si=RpwZGMKgwfzv_cmg https://youtu.be/Jaq001Evc_c?si=CxsMwY8U6CL-_1pb Apr 14, 1992, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Mr Cruel - Wikipedia Chilling new evidence in harrowing ‘Mr Cruel’ investigation | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines Major breakthrough in Melbourne’s notorious ‘Mr Cruel’ case - Starts at 60 A new profile of Mr Cruel, who may have been a burglar before he was a killer Mr. Cruel: The Australian Serial Kidnapper Still at Large Aug 29, 1987, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Dec 29, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Dec 28, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Dec 31, 1988, page 2 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Dec 30, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Dec 29, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Dec 28, 1988, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Jul 06, 1990, page 4 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Jul 05, 1990, page 3 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™ Jul 07, 1990, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Apr 16, 1991, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Jul 07, 1990, page 4 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Apr 15, 1991, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Jul 05, 1990, page 7 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Jul 21, 1990, page 17 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Jul 07, 1990, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Apr 21, 1991, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Apr 17, 1991, page 9 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™ Apr 30, 1991, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Apr 29, 1991, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ May 27, 1991, page 8 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™ Apr 15, 1991, page 1 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ Apr 20, 1991, page 1 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™ Apr 24, 1991, page 10 - The Sydney Morning Herald at Newspapers.com™ Apr 11, 1992, page 20 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ May 29, 1992, page 18 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ May 11, 1992, page 5 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ May 17, 1992, page 3 - The Age at Newspapers.com™   Jan 29, 1995, page 2 - The Age at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a whole world of strange and unsettling stories that rarely make the headlines, and that's exactly where you'll find Our True Crime Podcast. Each episode digs into one of those bizarre, lesser-known cases from any corner of the globe, stories that often defy easy explanation. Hosts Jen and Cam guide you through these peculiar narratives with a genuine sense of respect for those involved, balancing the darker details with their own conversational chemistry and a bit of well-timed humor. You might even get a smidge of song along the way, because real life, especially the strange parts, rarely follows a single tone. This isn't just a retelling of facts; it's a shared exploration of the oddities hidden within human behavior and society. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair with two friends who have a knack for finding the most compelling, offbeat tales. You'll hear the careful research, the thoughtful discussions, and the personal touch that Jen and Cam bring to every story, making even the most obscure case feel immediate and fascinating. If you're looking for a true crime experience that ventures far beyond the usual cases and does so with character and heart, you've found it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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376. Ultimate Betrayel: The Fort Leonard Wood Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:53
In October 1976, two teenagers took a late-night drive near a remote military base in the Missouri Ozarks and simply vanished into thin air. Months later, a second carload of kids was pulled over by a figure of authority…
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In this special episode, Cam and Jen join forces with Ash from F**K That to unravel the haunting disappearance of Danielle Bell. Fourteen-year-old Danielle Arion Bell went missing on Friday, September 28th, 2001, from a…
375. Knoxville Nightmare: Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:07
On a cold Saturday night in January 2007, 21-year-old Channon Christian and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Christopher Newsom, set out for a party. They never arrived. By the following afternoon, two families were desperatel…
374. What the Raven Knows: The Alaska Highway Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
Thank you to Mary and her partner for the request! Picture an endless stretch of highway surrounded by thick forests where there's no cell service, and towns are hours apart. Back in July 2019, that quiet part of the Ala…
373. Someone Else's Daughter: Anita Cobby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:04
It was a quiet summer morning in Prospect, New South Wales, when a farmer noticed his cows gathered around something in his paddock. At first, he thought it was a mannequin. Then he realized it was the naked body of a yo…
Introducting The Final Trace Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:36
Today, Cam and Jen are thrilled to share a special episode from our friends at The Final Trace, a true crime podcast that digs into chilling disappearances, cold cases, and mysteries that still leave us searching for ans…
372. The Mile High Murderer: Vincent Darrell Groves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:13
In March of 1987, Sheila Washington was walking near East Colfax Avenue, which was once dubbed the “longest, wickedest street in America," when a stranger in a blue Concord offered her a ride. That afternoon turned into…
371. Philly House of Horrors: Linda Weston [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:56
It started with two dog bowls. On the morning of October 15, 2011, in Philadelphia's quiet Tacony neighborhood, 71-year-old landlord Turgut Gozleveli descended into the basement of the brick building he helped maintain.…

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